I have two issues with this bill. Everytime I talk about them I end up getting tangled up between the two issues. Here’s my attempt to handle both issues a little more separately.
1) Kids shouldn’t be using Myspace in school. Fine, I can agree with this statement, but it cannot be used as an argument in support of the HR 5319. The bill is intended to protect kids from online predators. Any mention of young kids today and what they get away with in the classroom is irrelevant to the argument about whether this bill will protect kids from online predators. There are plenty of things kids shouldn’t be doing in school that are not banned by laws but are still enforced by schools. I was never allowed to play yo-yo in the classroom and don’t think I didn’t try.
2) This bill will protect kids from online predators. I just don’t buy this argument. It strikes a very emotional nerve. Especially for those of us with kids. I have yet to see any numbers backing up this claim. When seat belt laws and speed limit laws were enforced, there were tons of studies documenting their arguments. If somebody could show me the study that indicates that online predators use Myspace more effectively than public parks, malls, churches, schools and anywhere else that bad things happen to kids, I might change my mind but so far I’ve just heard people talking.
If the politicians really think that Myspace is so dangerous for kids, then ban the site for kids. Everywhere. Don’t try some weak ineffective things like only preventing it at school and libraries.
How would you like to be one of the politicians that voted against the bill because you thought it wasn’t going to fix a problem? All of them are going to get abused during the next elections as being pro-predator. Hopefully people will be smart enough to realize that you can be against a bill that is against predators for reasons other than wanting to help them out. Sometimes, no matter how good the intent, the bill just isn’t right.